Chapter 40. Reprieve

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love.

It will not lead you astray.” 

— Rumi

Even in the years when the kids were small, Gregg and I attempt to get away for an annual night or two alone. Though the sting of affair burns, we hold to our practice. A late November stay on the North Shore is a little awkward, and also a sweet reprieve.

Nov 20, 1999

We are sitting in our ‘resort’ room at the Bluefin Bay. As we look out our window we see gulls soaring above the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior just a few yards from our door. How lovely. 

We hear the waves rushing against the gray, lichen-spotted rock.  

The sun is shining and its rays are dancing on the water.  

Music is playing from the Change my Heart CD, “Purify my heart.” How sweet. 

Oh God, you are good – all the time.

Nature soothes me.

“God’s “big book” of creation is revered alongside of God’s “little book” of sacred scripture…

“I have had no other masters than the beeches and the oaks,” Bernard (of Clairvaux) wrote in the 12^th century, 

while Julian (of Norwich) recognized the love of God in a hazel nut in her hand. 

Hildegard of Bingen coined the word viriditas (“green power”) to describe the divine power of creation, 

while Francis of Assisi composed love songs to Brother Sun and Sister Moon.”  
- Barbara Brown Taylor, Leaving Church, p. 81)

 “Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God.” 

– Elizabeth Barrett Browning

As I’ve gotten older, I am inspired also by other’s appreciation of nature. 

A couple of favorite Mary Oliver poems follow.

WHEN I AM AMONG TREES

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks, and the pines, 

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often. 

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,”
they say, “and you, too, have come
into the world to do this, to go easy,
to be filled with light, and to shine.” 

~ Mary Oliver

Mindful

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less

kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle

in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for -
to look, to listen,

to lose myself
inside this soft world -
to instruct myself
over and over

in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant -
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help

but grow wise
with such teachings
as these -
the untrimmable light

of the world,
the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?

~ Mary Oliver